John Brown
n.p., n.d.
Wendell Phillips AQS Re: "John Brown, of Harper's Ferry"- A Stirring Call to Action!
AQS

A quote attributed to John Brown (1800-1859), the abolitionist leader of the failed insurrection at Harpers Ferry, inscribed in the hand of preeminent American abolitionist Wendell Phillips (1811-1894), and signed by him as "Wendell Phillips" at bottom. N.d., n.p. On a leaf of cream laid paper. Expected wear including even toning and a flattened horizontal paper fold, else near fine. 4.625" x 6.5." Accompanied by a handsome engraving of Phillips featuring his facsimile signature. Isolated edge darkening, else near fine. 5.375" x 8.5." Comes with an auction invoice.

Phillips wrote in full: "Count that day lost whose low descending sun sees at thy hand No worthy action done. These old lines John Brown, of Harper's Ferry, taught to each of his children. Wendell Phillips."

This quote attributed to Brown perfectly aligns with how sympathetic contemporaries envisioned Brown: as a zealous man of action. It is no surprise that these same words inspired Brown's fellow abolitionist, Wendell Phillips, who held up Brown as a martyr of the abolitionist cause. For even though Brown did not succeed in his attempt to capture the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (today West Virginia) in mid-October 1859, at least he tried to complete, in his mind, a "worthy action." The lines were evidently persuasive to Brown's children, as well, three of whom (Watson, Oliver, and Owen) joined their father at Harpers Ferry. After Brown's death, Phillips lobbied unsuccessfully to have Brown buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the hope that it would galvanize abolitionists there.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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engraving: 5.375" x 8.5"
Accompanied by an invoice from Steven S. Raab Autographs (Ardmore, Pennsylvania) dated December 21, 1998.